Shoe or boot.



fno. 694,872.' Paumtad im. 4, |902.

.- E. KETT.

(Application Bled July 3l)i 9011.1

` I hinge/ys UNITED l STATES PATENT rrrcn.

BENJAMIN E. Locnnr'r, or JErsERsoN CITY, MISSOURI.

SHOE OR BOOT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 694,872, dated March 4,1902.

Application `filed July 30, 1901. Serial No, 70,276. (No model.) I

To @ZZ whom t 11i/ay concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN E. LooKnrr, a citizen of the United States,residing at d' efferson City, in the county of Cole and'State ofMissouri, have invented a new and useful Shoe or Boot, of which thefollowingis a specication.

My invention relates to certain improvemen-ts in boots or shoes of thatclass in which woodensoles are used, and has for its object to providethe sole with a yielding joint which will permit the sole to move withthe foot, giving a light springing elfect conducive to easy walking andenabling the wearer to walk more lightly and without noise anddiscomfort. Y

in the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a woodensole embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bottom face ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation vof the device onthe line 3 3, Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the rubber'jointing-section detached.

In the drawings similar'numerals of reference refer to correspondingparts throughout the various figures.

The sole isdivided at the shank into two separate pieces l and 2, theportion 1 forming the sole and forward end of the shank and the portion2 forming the heel and rear end of the shank. These two parts are unitedby a hinge having its two leaves 3 and e unitedV by a pin 5, the twoleaves extending practically over the whole of the under face of theshank and serving to brace and strengthen the same. The leaf 3 has acurved forward edge and fits into'a corresponding-shaped recess in theshank, while the leaf 4 extends rearwardly to and is braced against theheel, as shown. fasten the hinge members in position. The adjacent facesof the sections l and 2 are slightly curved, being separated a somewhatgreater distance atl the center than at their sides, and inA each faceis formed a V- shaped groove 7,into which fit the correspondinglyshapedsides' 8 of a block 9, formed of rubber or other yielding material. Thejoint thus formed permits the-two sections to move and yield to anextent sncient to permit easy walking, the effect of the movementbeing'to Screws or pins 6 are employed to slightly compress theV rubberwithin the grooves, but rendering impossible the entrance of water orother fluid. The joint is in great measure protected by the hinge; butowing to the peculiar construction of the rubber block and its seatingin the grooves 7 a water-tight joint is made and all leakage isprevented. y

The upper outer edge of the sole-sections, and the rubber block aswell,is provided with a rabbet l0, in which the edge ofthe welt orupper-leather is seated, the leather being tacked down, as usual inshoes of this class.

I amaware that it has been proposed to 'manufacture jointed soles forshoes of this character; but in the cases with which I am familiar thejoints have not been so arranged as to prevent the entrance of Vwater tothe shoe or else have been formed directly on the wearing-surface of thesole, this latter arrangement being highly objectionable, not

only on account of the Wearing away of the joint portions, but owing tothe discomfort caused the wearer.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is- Y 1. A wooden sole made in two sections having attheir adjacent faces, V-shaped grooves, a rubber block adapted to saidgrooves, and a hinge having one of its leaves secured to each section,said hinge extending over the rubber block and forming a protection forthe same on the outer surface of the sole, substantially as described.

2. A wooden sole divided at the shank into two sections, each sectionhaving a V-shaped groove, a rubber block n tted in said grooves, a hingeuniting said sections and extending entirely over the shank, andcovering and protecting said rubber block, there being a rabbet formedin the upper outer edge of said sections and said block, substantiallyas described. Y

3. A wooden sole made in two sections, the adjacent faces of eachsection being-provided with V-shaped grooves, and each section having on'its outer and upper face a rabbet for the reception of the upper, arubber block shaped to conform to the V-shaped grooves sections, and ahinge having its leaves conmy own I have hereto affixed my signature inneeted to the under side of the shank and exthe presence of twoWitnesses. tending entirely over the same, said' hinge being so disposedas to form a protective COV- 5 ering for said rubber block,substantially as Witnesses:

specified. i ED. HAGAN,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as J. B. EDWARDS.

BENJAMIN E. LOCKETT.

